Beer Prices Come To A Head; Ethanol Blamed (DOH! Cost of barley rising as more corn is grown)

WGAL News 8 ^ | 7/6/07 | WGAL

[NormsRevenge]

LANCASTER, Pa. -- It's the latest example of the trickle-down economics of ethanol -- beer is getting more expensive.

Compared to this time last year, beer prices are up about 3 percent across the nation, according to the Labor Department. The increase marks the largest jump in more than two years.

One big reason, according to some brewers, is the rising cost of barley. A high demand for corn-based ethanol has many farmers devoting more fields to their corn crop and less to barley.

That has impacted many beer makers, including the Lancaster Brewing Company, which had to raise some prices earlier this year. The cases it sells to distributors went up 50 cents.

But the brewery said so far it hasn't had to hike the price of beer sold at its bar. But it isn't ruling out an increase next year.

"We do feel a little heat of the prices. But comparably the amount of barley in a glass of beer is insignificant. Twenty-five percent is 25 percent. But we've been able to keep control of the cost of beer," said Lancaster Brewing Company brewmaster Christian Heim.

The brewery also blamed last year's hot, dry weather for the shortage of barley.

News 8 contacted Pennsylvania's largest beer maker, Yuengling, but officials would not comment on beer prices.

Ethanol has also recently been blamed for higher, milk, ice cream and pizza prices.

[Drew68]

I have an idea. Let's end the protection racket for sugar growers (which keep the price of sugar artificially high). Companies can once again use sugar as a sweetener instead of high-fructose corn syrup. This will free up a lot more corn for other uses.

I dunno. I'd rather drink soda sweetened with sugar (as it is in every other country in the world) than HFCS.

[hotshu]

Next thing you’ll hear is the theory from a consensus of left leaning scientists that salting fields really is good for the planet. All hail Gaia.

[Gabz]

It's also causing a rise in Pizza prices:

Beer budget blown? Blame biofuel

[Gabz]

Ping

[ryan71]

“...beer prices are up about 3 percent across the nation”

Okay, stop the insanity!

Corn is not for cars.

[NormsRevenge]

Could another Boston Tea Party be “brewing” across the land? It’s More taxation without diddly squat in return for it.

Considering the amount of revenue already raised and waste and graft and corruption that consume a hefty chunk of it, we may be in need of a National March on DC.

When you mess with a nation’s libations, ya never know where it could end up.

[leda]

you don’t need barley to make eiswein ;)

[berstbubble]

No offense but I’m from a farm family (once removed) and know it is a bit of a jolt but its damned time that farmers earn a living for their work, even if its short lived.

[elhombrelibre]

Yes, someone had to say it. Good one.

[Redbob]

Alright, dang it all, that does it!

When beer goes up, so does my temper!
Michael Burgess is getting a phone call from me TODAY!

[Gabz]

LOL!!!

[bert]

An increase in the price or a reduction in beer sold is a good thing.

Beer is amajor source of atmospheric CO2 and is one of the major contributors to the greenhouse phenomenon.

[mylife]

Mmmmmm ..Yuengling

[knews_hound]

Oh the Humanity !

The price of Barley is going up.

Personally, I do not see how this will affect the BMC (Bud, Miller, Coors).

Since barley is nearly non-existant in their brew, I see no reason for it to raise the price.

On or off this low volume Ping List, let me know.

Cheers,

knewshound

Brew Your Own

[I still care]

I vote for #3 (anyone who says otherwise is a shill for big oil).

I notice what lefties like to do best is call names. I don’t think I can be racist, homophobic, or chauvinist over oil, so I vote for shill.

[Malesherbes]

In our wisdom we have now tied the price of corn to the price of energy - and both are going up. ‘Tis the summer of our discontents.

[L98Fiero]

“Well, Yeungling could just do like Bud and Miller and just add more water...”

That’s not funny. Don’t even joke about that... ;)

[dblshot]

What kind of society burns its food?

[nothingnew]

I am a very sad man right now........

FMCDH(BITS)

[Species8472]

Busch’s Fault!